Conscious Syllables

Dear World, My thoughts today are quite simple: I only have one voice. Why let it go to waste? In so many ways, and for far too long, I have not used my voice. Sure. If you know me, you know I love talking on the phone, through chat, in different languages - you name it. But,  I have not used my voice to give life  to my thoughts and opinions on things freely and unapologetically.  Instead, I surveyed my context and let that determine what parts of myself to reveal. Is my opinion similar, different, irrelevant to the conversation? In overthinking what the reaction to my thoughts would be, I chose silence more often than I'd like to admit. And then later, I mentally reprimand myself with all the possible things I could have said, would have said, should have said rather than remain quiet. In the end, who benefits? My life has told me several times that it is not me. If I don't speak up for me, then my voice will go unh...

 Newark, NJ [oringinal photo] After a challenging two weeks, I am back at home. And, in less than 24hrs, it has been just the pick-me-up I needed. In the pursuit of education, I have lived between home and elsewhere for the last ten years. Over time, my periodic visits home has made me a familiar stranger within my community. "Oh you're that other daughter, right?" or "You're the one away at boarding school, huh?" are still common questions I get even though I am six years removed from my high school experience. As a graduate student now, and perhaps closer to the time I'll return home permanently, my home visits have been much more meaningful and fulfilling. Coming home has been a revival in many ways. While being away from what inspired me to go off into the world in the first place, it gets easy to lose sight of my initial motivations. Fortunately, home has that gentle way of reacquainting you with dreams that you forgot about in your pursui...

It's hard when you know you have to say goodbye. It's even more difficult when you don't get the chance to say goodbye at all. And that difficulty is multiplied when you don't get to say goodbye to a friend. Kelsey Rennebohm, a fellow member of my wonderful cohort, was taken from this earth this past weekend and she has been on my mind ever since the moment I found out. Saturday June 2nd 10:22pm. Today, my cohort is having a walk in her memory around our campus to commemorate her life and the fact that she loved the outdoors. Unfortunately, I am unable to make it today, but wanted to honor Kelsey's life in some way, and perhaps the best way I know how. Here's to Kelsey. Transformers for Kelsey Rennebohm There's a saying that the heart is that one body part where if it is corrupted your whole being is corrupted and if it is pure your whole being is pure But my heart was broken on Saturday night and though I sit here with limbs in...